I was seen by an ENT doc after a CT scan of my throat and upper airways revealed a slightly enlarged thyroid. She sent me for another CT focusing on the larynx area and also had me get a videostroboscopy. It tuns out the thyroid needs no further action at this time but my vocal cords close partially when I exhale. The ENT doc,speech therapist and my pulm conferred and told me that I have vocal cord dysphonia. They said that it's probably neurological and there's nothing they can do.
I began wondering if maybe I didn't have asthma at all. But then I read that if it's only vocal cord problems then the asthma rescue drugs would be ineffective and maybe irritate things further. In my case, however, the rescue meds have been very effective and my maintenance drug has greatly decreased my hyper reactivity so I suspect that I have both. I guess I'll wait awhle before I get rid of my inhalors and nebulizer...at least until I see the pulmonologist again.
It's all a little confusing.
Tom
Hi THP,
I recently posted an article about a new inhaled steroid (controller agent) that became available last year (Alvesco). It has unique characteristics which reduce the likelihood of dysphonia (hoarseness) sometimes caused by throat deposition of inhaled steroid. You see, the drug chiefly becomes activated after entering the lung. Read more here.
Ask your doctor about this inhaler if your dysphonia is thought to be caused by use of an inhaled steroid. Rescue inhalers (for example albuterol containing inhalants) are less likely the cause of dysphonia.
Good Luck,
J. Thompson, MD